House of Representatives Rebukes Trump Over Iran War
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives issued an unusual rebuke to President Donald Trump by approving a measure pushed by Democrats to end his war with Iran, despite objections from Republican leadership. This was one of two Democrat-led measures—both opposed by the White House—that advanced in the Republican-controlled House. Lawmakers also approved a motion to allow a vote on sending aid to Ukraine. The war powers resolution regarding Iran, introduced by Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, was scheduled for a vote before the House's Memorial Day recess on May 21. However, it was abruptly pulled from the floor due to a lack of Republican attendance to block it. On Wednesday, the measure passed with 215 votes in favor and 208 against; four Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting it. These Republicans were Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Thomas Massie (KY), Tom Barrett (MI), and Warren Davidson (OH). The resolution orders Trump to withdraw U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran unless Congress votes to declare war or authorizes military force against the Middle Eastern nation. However, the measure would not compel the president to end the conflict, serving instead as a symbolic expression of disapproval of Trump's war with Iran. Earlier this year, Republicans had rejected three other attempts to pass a war powers resolution. The most recent vote ended in a tie of 212 to 212, a result Democrats celebrated, arguing that more Americans oppose the war and that it was only a matter of time before they achieved their goal. Wednesday's vote gives new momentum to the resolution in the Senate, which had already advanced its own version of the war powers resolution last month, although it had not yet held a final vote. However, the Senate version is binding, requiring Trump to end the war without Congressional approval. For this to happen, the measure would also need to be approved by the House, after which Trump could exercise his veto power. The House resolution faced opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and most Republicans, who argued it undermines Trump and his top negotiators at a time when they are trying to secure a nuclear deal with Iran. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) called Wednesday's action 'simply a totally absurd vote.' 'I don't think there is any Democrat or Republican who can tell you what forces they would want to withdraw from Iran. In reality, they don't want to withdraw anything from there. They just want a stupid political vote, which is exactly what this represents,' Mast stated on Wednesday. This 'weakens the president's position while negotiating with Iran.' In the same series of votes on Wednesday, the House voted 218 to 204 in favor of a motion to 'release'—or advance—legislation providing aid to Ukraine. This vote came after the so-called 'release petition' garnered 218 signatures—a simple majority of the House—on May 13, allowing supporters to bypass Johnson and Republican leadership to bring the measure directly to the floor. Representative Kevin Kiley—an ex-Republican now serving as an independent—joined all Democrats and two Republicans—Fitzpatrick and Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska—in signing the petition for Ukraine. Kiley, along with six other Republicans, voted on Wednesday in favor of releasing the bill. This sets the stage for a final vote scheduled for Thursday. 'This vote is not a procedural vote,' said Meeks, who also led the initiative for the bill's release. 'It is a statement about whether this Congress—and all its members—stands in solidarity and support of Ukraine and its people in their fight for freedom, their fight for democracy, and their fight for independence.'
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
